Fluid control valve



W. A. RAY

April 27, 1943.

FLUID CONTROL VALVE Filed May 14, 1940 v5 Sheets-Sheet 1 @wwwa fATTORNEY` Y April 27, 1943. W. A. RAY

FLUID CONTROL VALVE Filed May 14, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 @n .mom N Y @A mM L 3 2 W 4 M, O 4 9 4 f5 hw a 7 7 ,l E0 i L l @i -L @v/d@ @MWI Z M By Mv l ATTORNEY L April 27, 1943. W. A. RAY 2,317,639

FLUID CONTROL VALVE INVENTOR7 WMU/W @AK //nzfdw,

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 277, 1943 UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE W Y2,311,339 'Y FLUID coNrnoL VALVE.VA

WlliamA.Ray,Glendale,(ialif.Y Y i Application May 14,1940, serial No.335,035

u (ci. 137-144) 8 Claims.

My present invention relates to` fluid control valvesA and particularlyto those of the type wherein the valve is operated by the pressure ofthe fluid controlled thereby. Valves of this type have particularutility in the control oiE. fluid fuel, such as ordinary gas, in heatingapparatus. As commonly constructed, the valve assumes in operationeither a fully open or a closed position. In many heating applications,however, it is desirable that the valve also -be capable ofproviding arestricted flow of fuel. It is therefore an object of my invention toprovide a valve of the type described whereby either "high-nre orlowfire condition ofa burner, controlled bythe valve, may be produced;in addition Yto complete shut-off.

It ls another object, of my invention to provide a valve of the typedescribed which, when operated lfrom closed to low-fire position,provides an initial high flow of fuel to the burner to en` sure properand .complete ignition.

' It isv another object to provide, 'in a valve, a closure member whichis normally moved to one position by a motor operated by the pressure ofthe fluid controlled by the valve, and means controlled by the closuremember for applying the pressure of the iluid to the motor so as tooppose the pressure urgingV the closure member to said one positionwhereby it is balanced between its limits of movement.

Another object is to provide, in a valve, motor means, operated by thepressure of the fluid con- A trolled by the valve, for moving a closuremember between limiting positions wherein respectively no flow andrestricted flow through the Y valve is permitted, and means for socontrolling the motor that the closure member is balanced in a positionintermediate its limiting positions wherein full flow through the valveis permitted.

Another object is to provide a novel thermoelectric generating systemfor the energization of electromagnetic pilot valves adapted to controlthe valve of my present invention."

Another object is to Vprovide a novel thermo- 'static device forcontrolling the aforesaid pilot valves.

Other objects and advantages of :my invention will be found in thedescription, the drawings,v

and the appended claims,

For complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to thefollowing detailed descriptionA and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figures 1, 2 and 3 are diagrammatic views of a valve embodying myinvention, together with apparatus suitable for Vcontrolling the same,the 55 ilar to the pilot valve 30, and comprising a piv-HV .parts beingshown in the several views in the lpositions which they assume inoperation;

Figures 4 and 5 are diagrammatic'views of two modified forms of a valveembodying my invention; f Y

Figures 6,. 7 and 8 are diagrammatic views of a. modified form ofclosure mcmbenfadapted for use in the valvevof my invention, showingthe- "member in its several controlling positions;

inFig. 10 taken along the' irregular line vll-l l' of Fig. 12;

Figure '12 is a transverse section taken along -r Figure 13 isdiagrammatic view `of a @preferred control system for the valve shown'inFigs. 10-12, j-

including thermoelectric generating means; and Fig. 14 is a perspectiveview of a thermostatic device adapted to control the valve of myinvention. l l

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 Yof the draw,-

ings, the numeral I5 indicates a valve casing .have` ing an inlet I6 andan outlet I 1 separated vby a partitionv I8. This partition hasv a -mainport opening- I9 therethrough, provided at its upper and lower ends,respectively, vwith valve seats720 and 2|. A flexible diaphragm'ZZ,covering an opening in the top wall'of the valve casing, Vcarries aclosure member 23 provided with an'llpper 24 and a lower 25 valve membercooperable, re-

spectively, with the seats 20 and 2|. Defining,

with the valve'casing, a pressure chamber 2B,l

abovethe diaphragm122,` is a housing 21. Se-

cured to' the top of'this housing, and ydefining i therewith anotherchamber 28, is another housing 29. K

Mounted in the chamber 26 is a rrst electromagnetically operated pilotvalve 30 compris- 4ing a pivoted armature 3| the upper end portion ofwhich serves as a closure member for jets 32 and 33, which are connectedrespectively by pipes 34 and 35 with the inlet I6 and the chamber 28.The armature is normally heldin engagement with jet 33 by the force ofaspring 33 and is movable, when core 3l is energized by current now incoil 38, into Aengagement with the other jet'32. Mounted in thechamber/231s qa'ksecond.r E electromagnetically operated pilot valve.33, simkoted armature 40, the upper end portion of which is cooperable'with jets 4I and` 42 which are connected respectively Iby pipes 43 and44 with a passageway 45 formed in the partition IB and communicatingwith the port I8, and with the atmosphere. The amature is biased by aspring 43 into engagement with the jet 4I and is movable, -when core 41is energized by current ilow in coil 43, into engagement with the jet42.

A thermostat suitable for automatic 4control of the valvecomprises abinietallic member 49 which carries a contact element50 cooperable withaiixed contact 5I connected to one terminal of the coil 48. Secured tothe bimetallicY member is a iiexible arm 52v which carries anothercontact element 53 cooperable with another nxed contact 54,'connected toone' terminal -ofI position shown inFig. 1, engagement of the elements53 and 54 is effected before thatof elements 50 andSI; the flexibilityofthe arm52 permitting the subsequent additional engage.

meut` ofthe latter pair. Similarly, when the .bimetallie membersubsequently` moves' in the opposite'ldirection, elements 5B and 5I aredis-` engaged before elements 53 and v 54. l e

Assuming that the valve shown in Figs. 1,4-3 is connected to supply gasto the ,burner ofa furnace for heating va space wherein thethermostaticmember 49 is located, with vthe parts in.

the positions shown in'Fig. 1, flow through the valve is completelyobstructed by the valve member 24 which is maintained by gravity inengagement with the seat surrounding the inlet end of port I9; fluidpressureabove and below the diaphragm 22 being equalized by the open jet32 of pipe 34, and the chamber 25 being closed from the atmosphere bythe engagement of the arma-y ture with jet 33;

,On cooling, the bimetalliomember 49 moves in an anticlockwisekdirection and thus, if the temperature in the space falls, the 'contacts53 and 54 engage and current flows in coil 38, `energizing the'core 31to attract the lower end of the amature which assumes the position shownin Flg.y 2. Jet 32 now being closed and jet: 33 open, the uid which wascompressed lin chamber 425 escapes to the atmosphere through pipe .35,chamber 28 and pipe 44, as indicated by the broken :arrows in Fig. 2.The pressure of the iluidin the inlet I5 can now force the diaphragmupward, the,Y closure member assuming the position shown in Fig. 2 withthe valve member 25 in engagement withthe lower` or outlet end of theport I3.V In this position of the closure member, riuid 'can iiow to theburner` through a restricted passageway 56 lformed'in the partition I8andinterconnecting the port I9 and the outv letV I1. A low-firecondition thus Anow exists at the burner, it being assumed that the fuelwas ignited by a continuously burning pilot burner or other ignitingmeans.

It will be noted that the closure member, in passing from the position'shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, passed through an intermediateposition (shown in Fig. 3) wherein both ends of the port I9 were open. Amomentary high iiow of fuel to the burner was thus permitted whichensured proper and complete ignition.

Ii, in-spite of the low-fire condition' of the furnaceburner, the spacecontinues to cool, the bimetallic member will move farther, eifectingengagement of contacts 50 and 5I in addition to that of contacts 53and'54. The core 41, thus being energized, magnetically moves thearmature 40 to the position shown in Fig. 3 wherein jet 4I is open andjet 42 closed. Fluid can now ow, as indicated by the broken arrows inFig. 3, from the relatively high pressure zone existing in port I9 (thelower end of which is closed) through passageway 45, pipe 43, open jet4I, chamber 28 `(which isfnow closedffrom the atmosphere), pipe 35,. andopen jet 33 into the pressure chamber 26 above the diaphragm which waspreviously at atmospheric pressure. The

resultant increase in pressure above the diaphragm, opposing that belowit, permits the closure member to fall to the intermediate positionshown in Fig. 3 wherein it is balanced by the pressure and its weight.'Ihe factor controlling l static.

the balance is the pressure drop across the upper end of port I9 whichincreases as the member 24 approaches the seat 20. The resistance of thejet openings, which in practice are preferably quite small, has no eiecton the nal balanceof the closure member, as the pressure is then -In thebalanced position of the `closure membei; full ilow through the valveis'permitted to effect a high-nre condition at the burner. If thetemperature in thespace now rises, the thermostatic member will move ina clockwise directionV to first open contacts 50 and 5I, with the resultthat armature 40 will be released, closing jet 4I and/opening jet 42.`The'eompre'ssed uid can then escape from the chamber 25 vto theatmosphere and the closure member will reassume its low-fire position asshown inFig. 2. Undernormal heating conditions, the valve will beoperated intermittently between itslowand high--firek positions. Shouldthe temperature in the lspace rise above a predetermined degree,

both pairs of thermostat contacts will open, de'-Y energizing pilotvalve 3l)V and thus subjecting .the i chamber above the diaphragm to thefull pres-- sure ofthe tl-lid t0 completely shut-oil fuel sup- Ply tothe burner.

The valve diagrammatieally shown inrFig. 4 is substantially identicalwith the valve shownvgi in Figs. 1-3 and completely described ,hereinabove. The only essential difference between the valvesvis inthelocation of the parts, and therefore the numerals indicating the manorparts ofthe valve shown in Fig. 4, corresponding to those in thevalve'shown in Figs. 1-3, have been'prlmed. The diaphragm *22' is in aVseparate housing comprising members 60 and 5I and is connected to thevclosuref member 23 by a stem 52. The lower diaphragm chamber 63 ispermanently connected by a pipe64 with the inlet I3.

The pilot valve 30' is in a separate compartment 55 which isepermanentlyconnected by a pipe 55 with the upper diaphragml chamber 26'. Theoperation vof this valve uis identical with ythat of the one shown inFigs; 1-3 and therefore further description thereof is: deemedunnecessarywlt is to be understood that th'earea, f the Avalve member 24is small with respect .to that of the diaphragm and therefore thelifting. of the diaphragm is not substantially hindered by the fluidpressure above member 24'.. The main reason for the inclusion oftheshowing of Fig.'4 is so that the valve shown in Fig. 5, whichl employs adifferent iiuid circuit, may more readily be compared.l

In the valve shown in Fig. 5 the closure member is maintained `in closedposition by the aid l of 'atmospheric pressure above and-below thediaphragm, whereas'intnevalvef'snownin Fig. 4@ (and in Figs.'13) gaspressure isfemployedfor y that purpose.` The-fluid cotrolfcircuitofthisz' valve `is'therefore modified sothatthe same renv suits may beaccomplished.4V Otherwise'th'e:valvev is substantially `'identical inzconstruction and 'opf a eration with the'rv'alve shown-inFig. 4L "yReferring more 4particularly to Fig. 5, the nue? meralvlll'indic'ates avalvefcasing'having- 'an inlet` 1| and an outlet-12 separatediby a'partition 13 having a main port opening-14 therethrough fpro-'lj videdat its opposite ends with vanupper and a"v lower v'alve seat 15"andV1|i,'respec'tively. Con' nected vtov a stern 11, extending through anopening inthe upper wall of the valve casing', iSfaLelo-` sure memberV18 provided with an upper 19 and a' lower 80 valve member cooperablerespectively with the seats 1 5- and 16. A motor for operation ingmembers V8| and 82 separated by a diaphragm 83 to forman upper 04 and`aA lower'fpres'surev chamber. The upper end 'portionof Sthe'jclosuremember stem 11 sealinglyrextends Athrougha'n opening `in the lowerAhousing Ymember and is: secured tothe diaphragm. Mounted inaho'us-I ing 86 is arrst electromagnetically,operatedpilot valve 81 comprising apivoted armature 08, theV lower end of which is normally held invengage` l mentwith afluidc'ontroljet r89, byraspring 90h and is movabletherefrom into 1 engagement Iwith another jet 9| when an eiectromagnet92 is'lenergized. Mounted in another housing 93 isl as'ecl-V ondelectromagnetically operated pilot valve 94,

similar to the pilot valve` 91, and comprising a pivoted armature 9,5,the" lower `en d'of Which'isj normallyheidin engagement' with a jetV9|5, by a' spring 91, and ismovable therefrom' into engage-` mentwithanotherijet 99 when the ,upper end' portion of the armatureis attractedby angelecv tromagnet 99. 'I'he chamber 85, below thedia? phragmjsconnected by a pipe |00 with the space within .the housing86andthe'chamber 84 above the diaphragm, is connected by a pipe |0|with' tne'space withmthehousing 93. vThe' jette is connected bya pipe|02with the inlet 1|,'the jet 9 Vis connectedzby a pipe |03 with the'spacewith'- to the atmosphere' by a pipe |04,`and Jet 96 is connected Vby a,pipe "|05 with a passagewayf|06f-A formed in the partition 13 andcommunicating with theport'u. y a *The operationof thei valve shown inFigr isv as follows: Whenthevalve is in its normalcondition with theparts in the position showin-and in' the housing 93, the'jet 9s isconnected 'directly t formed in the partition and interconnectingthelport-14 and the Voutlet'12. A low-fire condition ofthe burner thusresults. If theelectromag'net.. 991sadditionallyenergizei the lowerendof arev mature 95 ismoved-away from jet 96 and into-en- Y y gagementWith'jet 98, vthereby 'sealing 'theupper i diaphragm chamber 8l fromthe'atmosphere'and permitting la. momentaryV flow :thereinto of the highpressureL fluid from the inlet 1| through porti 14,-passageway |06,pipe-|05g2jet 96,.andip`ipe |0|. They pressure diiferential across :thediaphragm thus being decreased'permits the closure member to fall toa'point'at `whichthe pressure drop across the inlet endofithe'port Hissufficient to carry it. With 'the closure member balanced iny thisposition, both ends 'of the port are open and. y

full flow oi fuel tothe burner is permitted. It

is-thus seen that the operationrof the valve shown in Fig, 5 isfundamentally identical Vwith thatoff` the valvesk shown in Figs. 1-3.and 4. v

In Figs-6, '1 and a, wherein a modmedlform of n Y closure member is!disclosed, the numerals ||0 and' indicate, respectively, the upperandthe lower wall of a valvecasing-having aninlet H2.

and anoutlet I3 separated-by avertical `partition Ill-.having a mainopening L-| l5 therethrough..

and an inletrecessf'll; communicating ywith which is arestricted opening|-|11leading1to the outlet and another opening ||8 to which iscon- 'Anected'apipe ||9, corresponding inr function to l thepipe 43 shownin'Figs. 1-3. 1A slidable closure.l

member |20, ycooperable with the openings 4in the: partition and havingvan opening |2|1there y through, isprovided with `an operatingstem |22extending through' an opening in the upper wall' of the casing andadapted to be connected tova motorV such yas thatshown inthelzyiececlingA figures."

The positionsof Vthe closure member |20'shown in Figs.68`correspond,'respectively, to thoseof i the 'closurev member '23:shown in Figs. f1-3. r:.In

the normal position'of the closure' member as shown in Fig. 6, iiowthrough theva'lve is completely" obstructed in "the elevatedfpositionlof theclosure member as shown :in Fign'l, restricted 1. iiowisf-permitted through the'opening |1; and* in the balanced position ofthevk closureA member as shown in Figr, full ow is permitted through thecoinciding mainopenings |2|"and |5; In view of thegforegoingritisf'apparentthat'the Avalve of my preseritf invention, is'notrestrictedassumin'g'that lt'is connected to supply vfueluto. af e gas burner, bothof the diaphragmchamb'ers and 85 arenat atmospheric pressure by` reason'of the open jets 9| andr98 and therefore the clo-y sure fmember18gjbeingi'gravity biased, is in its f downward positionl with thevalve'vmembervis l closing port14, the' ,pr essure ofthe fluidonjthe'top of `member 19 aiding in' tightly closinfgit.

Fuel ow through thevalve is thusfcompEt'ely A obstructed. `If theelectromagnetSiZ is energized, the lower end of armature 801s moved awayfrom jet 89 and into 'engagement withjet FluidV can now flow from theinlet`1|` through pipes-|02 and |00 into the Vlower pressurechambverrlli.l

The upper vchamber 84 stillbeing atviatmosphcr'ic pressure. thekdiaphragm 8 3 isf lifted, moving" thef closure member 18 upward so thatits valve mem-'vy ber engages the seat 16. 4Inthis positiom theVupperend of port 14 is open-and =fuei`can flow-to tothe use ofafspecic-form of closure member'.

In the Vsystemshown'in Figs. 1-3, a three-V wire thermostat isIshown*.for'controllingfthe pilot valves.l However, the.vsystemtmayfalsoV be` -controlled by a' two-wire thermostat, ras is-rdemonstrated inthe circuit diagram of Fig. 9. In f this gure, thenumerale|25 indicatesabimetallic member fcarrying' a '.rstA contactelement |29 Vcooperable ,with a. xed contact." |721.

source of current |3|,'to'one'=termlnal of each of Ltheelectromagnets'|32-and|33:` The other ter'- minals of the electromagnets'are connectedt'o-'fgether and tothe bimetallic member. i l

whenV -thejbimetailic lmember 12s moves in* clockwise direction, thecontacts'f-"I28and "|29 inrstengage and current ows through'both of theelectromagnets. However, the vresistance:|30

isnow inthe circuit 'andso thefcurre'ntis rela` tively weak but-sufcicutto energize electron;agr.l

thefburner through a restricted opening |0155.

YA, second= 4g contact element |20,*'cooperable Withla fixed-conf.'vtact |2'9,..is1flexibly connected Sto the .bimetallic member by aresistance elementi-10: The `xed contacts are zconnected together and,Ythrough a magnet being designed for more sensitive .operation than thatof the otherelectromagnet |33;;V

On furthermovement of thebimetallic member,

contacts. |26 and V|21'additonally engage, shortcircuiting resistance|30, and current flows through theV parallel connected electromagnetsinv an amount sufficient to also energize the less sensitiveelectromagnet |33 to attract itsrarmature |35.. The electromagnets |32and |33 correspondyrespectively,v to the electromagnets 31-38 and 41-48of the system. shown in Figs. 1-3.

In Figs. 10-121have shown a practical em-V bodiment of the`valvediagrammatically shown in Figs. 1-3. The pilot valve structure shown inFigs. 10-12 aresubstantially the same as those disclosed in my copendingapplications Serial No.

256,123, led. February 13, 1939. and Serial No.V

279,220, filed June .14, 1939. VIn Figs.' 10-12,v the numeral |40indicates a valve casinghaving aninlet |4| and an outlet |42 separatedby an integrally formed partition |43; Threaded in an/opening formed inthis partitionfis a hollow 'member |44, the innery surface ofv whichdenes an elongated valve port |51, and

the ends of which are formed to provide annular valve seatsA |45 and|46. Secured atits margin between. the casing and an upper casingsection |41v is a generally rectangular diaphragm |48, of material suchas leather or artificial rubber, which carries atits center a closuremember generallyindicated at |49 and vcomprising a vaned valveguidmember |50, at either end of which isa valve member disk |5|V and|52, cooperable ff l: 2,317,639 net |32 to attract its armature |34,thiselectro-- by theiorce 'of a compression spring |81.V The armatureextendsthrough and is guided by an aperturedV member |82,. vinterposedbetween. theeV 'core armr |11 and the plate |13, and having anupwardlylbent portion |83 which is aperturedto receive the end portionVof the upper core arm |18 and thus hold itrigidly with .respect to itsother arm. `When the core |16 isenergized by passage of current throughcoil |19, the*r upper end ofthe armature |80. is attracted toward theend` of core arm |18 and thus the lower end of..

the armatureris moved awayfrom jet |61 and into engagement vwith jet|66,obstructing fluid flow therethrough. For sensitive operation of thepilot Vvalve,;the positions of the jets are adjustedl so that theclearance between an unengaged'jet and the armature is approximately0.005 inch,

and also so that .thereis a similar clearance between the armature andtheend of theY core arm |18 when the armature is in its attractedposition.

Mounted in the other chamber |63, dened by the pilot valve describedabove in connection with n Figs. 10.712. One ofitsjet members |86ismounted in a boss |81 (Fig. 12) projecting from the bottom of the casingsection, andthe other .jet l described in thepreceding paragraph. Aguide member for the armature, corresponding to the ,otherarmature-guide member |82, is shown at |93. Terminals |94 areprovidedfor electrical.

connection to the electromagnet |92. h The fluid control circuit of thevalve shown iu AFigs. nir- 172, which is identicarwith that of the Theupper casing section |41 is divided by an,V

integrallyuformed wallor partition |59 (Fig. 12) into a pair ofVspacesvwhich, withhousings |60 and. Nil;V form a pair of chambers |62and |63 .corresponding respectively to the chambers 26 and 28 of thevalve shown in Figs. 1-3, the chamber |62 communicating directly withthe space above the diaphragm |48. .Mounted in spaced hollow bossportions |64 and |65, projecting from thev partitionr |59, are pilotvalve jet members |66 and |61,Arespectively. The jet member |61 isthreaded directly in the boss |65l and is held in adjusted position by.a nut |68, threadedv on the :let member and'compressed` against apacking member |69. The other jet member |66 is threaded in a cappedsleeve |10 which itself is threaded in an opening formed in a side Wallof the section |41 and in the boss |64. VA nut |1|,

. threadeclon the jet member |66 and compressed against apacking-.member |12, holds this jet member in adjusted position in itssleeve. Y

Mounted within the housing |60, by means of a' plate .|13 secured .tobosses |l14-and |15,-is.an`

electromagnetic operator for thel pilot valve. Thisl operator comprisesa `U-shaped'"Jnagnetic orel|16 secured by its lower arm |11 to the.plate |13 and carrying on its upper armv |18V an energizing coil |19,which is electricall-yconnected to terminalsl |84 insulatingly mountedin the side wall of housing |60. Fulcrumed on the beveled en'd of thecore arm |11 is'an armature |80, the lower end portion of which is heldin engagement with the area surrounding the opening in jet |61 valvediagrammatically shown in Figs. ,A1-3, will now be traced. The jetmember |66 is connected'r tothe inlet` |4| by openings |95 in the sleeve|10, vertical passagey |96, horizontal passage |91, coinciding verticalpassages |98. and |99, and branchy passage 200; all of whichVpassagesare formed or bored in the end wall'of the casing section and ofthe casing. Jet member'- |61v is connected to the chamber |63 bypassages 20| and 202 formed in the boss |65 and partition |59. Jetmember |88'1 is vconnected directly to the at-4 mcsphere through anopening in the outer end or .cap of its supporting sleeve |89.' Inpractice, this connection isvusually. extended to a space within afurnace by a vent pipeY 203. Jet |86 is connected to port |51 by.rpassage 204 in boss |81,

' necting the port |51 and the outlet |42, is a passage 2| and anopening 2|2. A needle valve 2| 3, threaded' in the lower end of thepassage, serves v to adjust the flow throughY the opening. So as toprevent possible obstruction of the port' openings of passages 2 I0 and2| by the vanes of the valve guide member |50, the vanes are notchedadjacent the openings as indicated at 2|4.

As the opera/tion of *the valve shown in Figs.

In Fig, 13, wherein I have shown a preferredV electrical circuit for thevalve shown in Figs.

1042 when it is employed to control the supply of fuel to agas-consuming heating device, the numeral 22|) indicates a bimetallicmember, responsive to the result of the heating, and carrying a firstcontact element 22|, ycooperable with! a fixed contact 222. 4Secured tothe bimetallic member is aflexible arm 223 which carries asceond contactelement 224, cooperable with another flxed contact 225. The fixedcontact 225v is connected by a Wire 226 to one terminal of anelectromagnet coil 221, rthe other terminal of which is connected by a,wire 228 to one terminal of a thermoelectric generating device orthermopile 229 which is so arranged as to be heated by the ame of apilot burner 230 for a main burner 23|. Similarly, the xed contact 222is connect,- ed bya wire 232 'to one terminal of anotherelectromagnetcoil 233, the other terminal of which is connected by a wire 234 to oneterminal of another thermopile 235 which is arrangedf xto be heated 'bythe flame of the mainburner.23 The other terminals of the thermopilesare connected together by a wire 236 and to the bimetallic mem- Adaptedto be energizedirespecber by wire 231. tively by current flow-in thecoils 221 and 233 are U-shaped cores 238 and 239 with whichjet-controlling armatures 240 and 24| are respectively cooperable. Y

The jets with'which armature 240 cooperates correspond to the jet 32 and33 of the valve shown in Figs. 1-3 and serve to control the' initialoperation of the main closure member from closed to low-firepositionwhen contacts 224 and 225 engage 'with fall of temperature atthe bimetallic member. Currentfor the operation of this armature isprovided by the thermopile 229 which is heated by the flame of thecontinuously burning pilot burner 230. The system is therefore always incondition for initial operation. When the main burner is in low-nrecondition, the other thermopileV is heated and current is -thenavailable for the operation of the other armature 24|, which cooperateswithk jets corresponding to those shown at 4| and 42 in Figs. 1-3, andserves to control thel operation of the closure member fromlowtoYhigh-lre position when contacts 22| and 222 additionally engage.Bythisarrangement, the system is always ready lfor operation withminimum consumption of fuel for current generating purposes. If thepilot burner name is accidentally extinguished, armature 240 is releasedand the main valve closes and cannot be reopened until the pilot burneris relighted, thus rendering the system Another advantage of thearrangement shown in Figs. 1-3 resides in the tact that, when both ofthe pairs of thermostat contacts are engaged Figs. 1-3, when both of theelectromagnets are energized current passes through the bimetallicmember in an amount equal to the sum of the currents through the twocoils; by the arrangement shown in Fig.'13, current flows only in theouter circuit and none (or a small amount, de-

pendingonrthe degree `of balance of thef'bridge arms) passes through thebimetallic member.

In Fig."14, wherein I have shown a'thermostat suitable for use in thecontrolcircuits ofvFig's. 1-3 and Fig. 13, the numeral 250 indicates aU-shaped conducting member, the arms ofV which are normally urgedtoward` each other by their own resilience. Threaded in the e'nd portionof the upper arm of this member are laterallyspaced Contact elements-25| and`l252. A U-shaped bifurcated member 253, ofbimetaiudmateriarmsulatingly carries on the end portion of each of itsupper spaced arms a contact element, 254 and 255, which are cooperablerespectively with the contact elements 25| and*252. The member 25|) isnested within themember 253Aand the,lower arms of the membersare'clamped together by a short hollow screw 25B, whichextends'throughopenings formed inthe arms, and a: nut,251. Threaded in the hollow screw256 isan adjusting vvscrew 258, the reduced upperend portion of whichfreely extends through an" opening in the upper arm of the member 250,the shoulder of the screw adjacentits reduced end portionengaging the,underside Vof =thefarm.v Thecontact ele ment 25| 'is adjusted sothat itis slightly closer to contact' 254 than contact 252 is to contact 255;contact 254`is therefore connected to the coil of the'electromagnetwhich isto be energized first. The adjusting screw 258 controls thetemperature setting of the thermostat, the same dierential of engagementof, the pairs of confacts being maintained at dinerentsettings. Asshown, the connecting leadsare preferably sol- ".,dered directly to thecontact elements 254 and 255 and tothe contact-carrying member 250.

While I 4have here,in shown illustrative embodiments of my inventionwhich I have described in connection with the control'of a gas-`consuming heating device,v itis tobe understood that the Valve of myinvention isV capable of other uses and that modications'may be madewithout departing from the spirit oi my invention. I

intend, therefore, that inyinvention be limited only by the scope of theappended claims.

I claim as my invention; e A i 1. Ina fluid control valve: a valve bodyhaving an inlet and anV outlet; a. partition separating said inlet andsaid' outlet and having a main port opening and a restricted portopening, each adapted to interconnect the inlet and the outlet;

a closure member for controlling said openings and movable in oppositedirections between a i'lrst position, wherein bothof said openings areclosed, and a. second' position, wherein only said and thus Vboth of thepilotvalve operators ener-v gized, the thermostat is connected acrosspoints of equipotential in the circuit and therefore no current owsthrough the bimetallic member and wire 231; it being assumed that thethermopiles are connected in series as shown and thattheir generated E.M. Fs; are equal, and also that the takenby anull indicator. Ii a commonsource of main opening is closed;v a. fluid-pressure motor for operatingsaid closure member; means for selectively influencing said motor bypressure of the iiuid controlled by the valve to cause the mo'- tornormally to move the closure member either to the first or secondposition; means deiining4 a passageway adapted to be placedintocommunication with said inlet and controlled by said closure memberto interruptY said communication whenthe closure member is in said firstposition and thereby reduce the pressure in Asaid passageway, and toestablish communication when the closure member moves away from its rstposicurrent is employed. as in the circuit shown in tion and therebyincrease the pressure in said passageway; said passageway being capableof communicating with said motor to apply the pressure of saidfluid, ascontrolled vby the position of the closure member between its extremepositions, to the motor in a sense `opposite to that fof the iluidpressure tending tormove thevclosure member Vto said second position, sothat the closure member may kbe maintained in a position intermediatesaid iirst and said second positions wherein said main port opening andsaid passageway are open; and means for controlling said communicationof. the passageway with the motor. i

2. In a fluid controlvalve: a valve body having an inlet and an outlet;a partition separating said inlet and said outlet and having a main portopening anda restricted port opening, each adaptedlto interconnect theinlet and the outlet; aclosuremember operable to control said openingsand movable between anrstposition, wherein both of said openings areclosed, and a second position, wherein only said main Yopening is iclosed; means biasing lsaid closure member toV saidiirstposition; v'afluid-pressure motor comprising means denning a pair oi pressurechambers separated from each other by a movable partition; -meansconnecting said movable partition with said closure member; meansv forapplying the inlet pressure ofthe iluid controlled by thel the pressurein said passageway; said passage-A way being capable of communicatingwith said motor to apply the pressure of said uid, as con- 4trolledbythe position ci' the closure member between lts extreme positions, tothe other of said chambers so that the closure member may be maintainedin a position intermediatesaid first and said second positionswhereinsaid main port opening and said passageway are open; and

means for controlling said communication of the passageway with themotor.

3..In a iluizi control valve: a valve body having an inlet andan outleta partition separating said inlet and said outlet and having a main portopening and a restricted port opening, each adapted to interconnect theinlet and the outlet;

vsaid partition also providing a control openig;

a closure member operable to control said openings and movable between arst position, wherein all o f said openings including the control`opening are closed with respect to said inlet and are subjected Vtopressure substantially less than in the inlet, a second position,wherein the inlet vpressure is transmitted through all oi the saidopenings except said, main opening, and an intermediate position whereinall of said openings are open and said control opening is subject to anintermediate pressure dependent on such intermediate position of theclosure; said closure member being biased to said iirst position; a mo,

tor comprising means'dening apair of` pressure able partition; meansconnecting said movable partition with said closure member; means,including a first pilot valve, for applying the preschambers separatedfrom each other bym. mov-2'..

sure of said fluid to one of said chambers to urge said closuremember-toward said second position; and means, including a second pilotvalve, fluidly connecting the other of said chambers 5 with said controlopening all whereby iluid ow through the valveV is obstructed when theclosurevmember is in said first position, restricted flow through thevalve is permitted when the closuremember'is in said second position,and full ilow through the valve is permitted when the closure member ismaintained in a position intermediate said first and, said secondpositions by iiuid pressure in the'other vof said chambers opposing thefluid pressure in the one of said chambers. 1

4. In a fluid control valve: a valve body having an inlet and an outlet:a partition separating said inlet and Vsaid outlet and having a portopening therethrough; a iirst valve seat formed at the inlet end of saidport and a second valve seat at the outletend thereof; a closuremembercooperablewith said seatsand comprising a pairofginterconnected'fand spaced-apart valve Vclosure-fmernbefrfbeingvmovable between a -first position, wherein one of said `valvemembersis in engagement with said inlet Y seat, and a secondposition,wherein the other oi said valve members is in engagement with saidoutlet seat; said closure member being biased to said first position;said closure member being adapted to assume a position intermediate saidilrst and said second positions wherein both of said valve members areout oi engagement with said seats; a motor comprising means defining apair of pressure Vchambers separated from each otherl by a movablepartition; means connecting said movable partition with said closuremember; means for applying the pressure of the fluid controlled by thevalve to one of said chambers to urge said closure-member toward saidsecond position; said port having an opening terminating intermediatesaid seats and capable of communicating with the other oi.' saidchambers whereby `the, pressure of said fluid may be so applied to saidmotor as to maintain said closure member in said intermediate position;and means for controlling said communication of the intermediate:opening withthe other chamber; said port having an additional openingterminating intermediate said seats and communicating with said outlet,whereby Iluid is passed Y through tlievalve when the closure member isVin said second positions..

5. In vs. nuid controlvalve: a valve-body hav- 5. 5 said inlet and saidoutlet and having a port opening therethrough; a rst valve seat formedat 'the inlet fendof said port and a-seconf;` valve seat at .the outletend thereof; a closure member cooperable with saidseats and comprising apair of interconnected spaced-apart valve members; "said closure memberVbeing movable between a first position, wherein one of saidvalve lmembers is -in engagement with `said inlet seat, 5 and a secondposition, wherein the other of said valve members isin engagement withsaid outlet 1 seat; said closure member being biased to said ilrstposition; said closure member being adapted toassume a positioninterl'nediatev said first and said second positions'wherein both ofsaid valve members are out of engagement with said seats; gnmotorcomprising. means denning a pair of pressure chambers separated fromeach other by amovable partition: means .connecting said movablepartition with said closure` member;

ing an inlet and an outlet; a partition separating :said passagewaywhereby, when said closure member is in said second position, thepressure of said iiuid may be so applied to said motor as to maintainsaid closure member in said intermediate position; said port also havingan opening intermediate said seats and communicating with said outlet,whereby uid is passed through the valves when the closure member is insaid second position.

6. In a uid control valve: a valve casing having an inlet and an outlet;a partition separating said inlet and said outlet and having a portopening therethrough; a rst valve seat formed at the inlet end of saidport, and a second valve seat at the'outlet end thereof; and a closuremember cooperable with said seats and comprising a pair ofinterconnected and spaced-apart valve members; said closure member beingmovable between a rst position, wherein one of said valve members is inengagement with said inlet seat, and'a second position, wherein theother of said valve members is in engagement with said outlet seat; saidport having a restricted opening intermediate said seats andcommunicating with said outlet, whereby restricted uid flow through thevalve is permitted when the closure member is in said second position;said closure member being adapted to assume another position,intermediate said first and said second positions, wherein both of saidvalve members are out of engagement with saidseats, whereby full fluidiiow through the valve is permitted.

7. In a fluid control valve: a casing having la inlet and an outlet;control meansV whereby a restricted iiow of uid or a full flow of uidmay be passed through said' valve; said control means comprising apartition separating. said inlet and said outlet and having a main portopening and a restricted port opening, each adap'ted to inter`v connectthe inlet and the outlet; a closure member operable to control saidopenings and movable between a first limiting position, wherein' both ofsaid openings are closed, and a second `limiting position wherein onlysaid restricted opening is open; said closure member in its move- Vmentbetween said first and Vsecond limiting posi-A tions passing through anintermediate position l wherein both of said openings are open.

8. In a fluid control valve; a casing having an inlet and an outlet;control means whereby a restricted ilow of iiuid or a full :dow of iiuidmay be passed through said valve; said control means comprising aVpartition separating said inlet and said outlet and having a main portopening and a restricted port opening, eachadapted to interconnect theinlet and the outlet; a closure member operable to control said openingsand movableV v between a first limiting position, wherein both of saidopenings are closed, and a second limiting position wherein only saidrestricted opening 'is open; said closure member being biased to saidrst position; said closure member in its movement between said first andsecond-limiting positions passing through an intermediate positionwherein both of said openings are open.

WILLIAM A. RAY.

